Events organized by ULAB DEH
The 6th Curriculum Integration Program for Spring 2022
“The Many Faces of Conflict”
First Forum
The Department of English And Humanities (DEH) of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) organized its 6th Curriculum Integration (CI) Program for the Spring 2022 session on 21 April, 2022. The theme of this CI was “The Many Faces of Conflict”. In the presence of the guest speaker, Shahab Enam Khan, professor of the Department of International Relations, Jahangirnagar University, the first forum was commenced by the opening speech of Prof. Shamsad Mortuza, Pro Vice-Chancellor of ULAB and Dean of DEH, at the permanent campus of the university.
The guest speaker of the event discussed conflict theoretically, with reference to literature and renowned writers worldwide, namely Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, and Tolstoy’s War And Peace. This was followed by various real-life examples, including the on-going war between two European countries, Russia and Ukraine, and America’s role in the war. In relation to the theme, the guest speaker demonstrated the different types of conflict possible, including stories from his personal life and experience. The insightful speech aroused curiosity amongst the audience that included the students and faculty members of DEH, which led to a lively “question and answer” session.
The first forum was hosted by Ms. Amreeta Lethe Chowdhury, a student of DEH from batch 201. It ended with a token of thanks from Prof. Mortuza to Prof. Khan, followed by a vote of thanks and appreciation towards the Head of the Department, the students, the faculty members, and the dutiful volunteers from the convener of the forum, Md. Muntasir Mamun, Assistant Professor of DEH, ULAB.
Second Forum
The second forum of the CI with the theme, “The Many Faces of Conflict”, organized by DEH of ULAB, was held on 23 April, 2022, at the Research Build of the university at Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The forum was graced with the inaugural speech of the Head of the Department, Arifa Ghani Rahman, Associate Professor, ULAB. The guest speaker of this forum was Sudeep Chakravarti, Associate Professor of DEH, ULAB.
In his speech, entitled, “Alien In Your Own World: A Short History of Conflict & Conflict Resolution in South Asia”, Prof. Chakravarti discussed the various conflicts and violence that took place in India and South Asia at various time periods, including the conflicts of the British Indian Empire, the Pre-partition period of India, and the partition of South Asia as a whole, and how religion and various other philosophical theories like Maoism and Marxism became the centre of many unjust disturbance in Bangladesh. A journalist, independent researcher, policy analyst, media consultant, and an author by profession besides being a teacher, Prof. Chakravarti answered the questions of the curious students, who related his fields of interest with the theme of the CI, during the “question and answer” session that followed after his speech. Respected Faculty Members were equally enthusiastic and each of them put forward their thoughtful questions to Prof. Chakravarti.
The second forum was hosted by Shahriyer Hossain Shetu, Teaching Assistant of DEH from batch 182. Similar to the first forum, the second forum ended with a token of thanks from Prof. Mortuza to Prof. Chakravarti, followed by a note of thanks and appreciation towards the Head of the Department, the students, the faculty members, and the dutiful volunteers from the convener of the forum, Ms. Tasmia Mayen, Senior Lecturer at DEH, ULAB,.